Heads Of WFP And UNHCR Visit S. Sudan And Ethiopia Amid Alarming Spread Of
Hunger And Displacement
Published on 1 April 2014
JUBA, 1 April 2014 – Alarmed at the impact of ongoing violence in
<
http://www.wfp.org/countries/south-sudan> South Sudan, the heads of the
World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Refugee agency (UNHCR)
arrived here today on a joint trip to meet conflict-affected people and to
review the on-going response and needs amid a spiralling humanitarian
crisis.
More than 800,000 people have been displaced in
<
http://www.wfp.org/countries/south-sudan> South Sudan by the conflict,
which flared up on 15 December 2013. This includes 68,000 people who are
sheltering in UN peacekeeping bases. A further 254,000 refugees have crossed
into neighbouring countries seeking shelter and food. Additionally, South
Sudan was also hosting some 220,000 refugees from Sudan in camps close to
conflict areas.
WFP’s Executive Director <
http://www.wfp.org/about/executive-director>
Ertharin Cousin and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres
will spend two days in <
http://www.wfp.org/countries/south-sudan> South
Sudan to meet displaced people, partners and local authorities, before
crossing over the border to meet some of the more than 80,000 refugees in
<
http://www.wfp.org/countries/ethiopia> Ethiopia.
“It is heartbreaking to see that some of the very people who had fled the
war two decades ago, people we helped to return to South Sudan after
independence, are having to flee for their lives again, many back to the
very same places where they lived in exile,” said Mr. Guterres, noting
40,000 people have crossed into <
http://www.wfp.org/countries/sudan> Sudan
to escape recent fighting.
Humanitarian access to refugees, internally displaced persons and other
vulnerable populations is increasingly challenging due to continuing warfare
and shifting conflict lines. The two Agency heads are concerned about the
number of people cut off from any form of aid and the concern that violence
has put farming to a halt in some areas.
"Large-scale population displacement and disruption of markets and trade
routes are creating a food security crisis,” said Ms. Cousin. “People are in
acute need. Humanitarians require two things: safe access to those in need
and the funds to bring in lifesaving supplies – food, shelter, vaccines,
healthcare and other aid. Several countries have contributed generously, but
at current levels we are only able to cover a fraction of the needs.”
In the more than 100 days since the start of the conflict more than half a
million people have received food assistance inside the country, but
continued conflict, combined with the onset of the rainy season has made it
difficult to reach many people in need. The relief effort has been further
hampered by a severe lack of funds.
An inter-agency appeal led by UNHCR is calling for more than USD 370 million
to fund the refugee response in Ethiopia, Kenya, Republic of Sudan and
Uganda. Inside South Sudan, WFP is facing a funding shortfall of USD 224
million over the next six months, while humanitarian partners require a
further USD42 million for shelter and other non-food items.
# # #
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. On
average, WFP reaches more than 90 million people with food assistance in 80
countries each year.
UNHCR leads and co-ordinates international action to protect refugees and
safeguard their rights and work for their well-being.
Received on Tue Apr 01 2014 - 13:48:08 EDT